what to look for in buying a R56 Cooper S

[Nick6]

I'm looking at perchasing a 2007 R56 Cooper S with 60K miles. Looking at the car as a daily. Seller has maintence records, however the car has not has had its timing chain replace, and this worries me some. I have read all over the net that the R56's are major maintence whores, especially the 2007's and this is a concern, almost driving me away from looking at a Cooper S. Anyways I would like to find out from those than know Mini's better than I what to look for when looking at a used Cooper S, what to stay away from or if I should avoid such a car all together.

[Pyewacket69]

I don't think the timing chain itself is an issue, but rather the tensioner that causes the issues...

[Nick6]

How much of a problem is the tensioner? I keep hearing horror stories about them and the price engines espcially when it comes to the 07's.

[BeSeen]

How much of a problem is the tensioner? I keep hearing horror stories about them and the price engines espcially when it comes to the 07's.

The timing chain wasn't the problem. But instead the tensioner had insufficient tension and over time withhard accelerations and owners running them low on the chain would become stretched csusing the upoer upper timing chain rail to break and cause loud rattle. Some models came with a recall that was released last year. With the recall you get the timing chain, rails and even an oil change if fragments of oil were found by the working technician, along with an updated longer timing chain tensioner to decrease the slack on the chain. Hope that helps.